What is Raven hair?
Raven hair is a very dark brown or black hair color that has a bluish or ash tint to it. It gets its name from the feathers of a raven, which have a similar dark color with blue/grey undertones. Raven hair is one of the darkest natural hair colors and sits between jet black hair and dark brown hair on the spectrum. It has more dimension than jet black hair due to the subtle blue/ash tones mixed in.
Some key characteristics of raven hair include:
| – Very dark brown to black in color |
| – Has a subtle bluish, grey, or ash tint |
| – More dimensional than jet black hair |
| – Sits between jet black and dark brown on the spectrum |
Raven hair has a beautiful, shiny finish when healthy. The blue/grey sheen gives it depth and dimension, allowing it to reflect light better than plain black hair. People with raven hair tend to have a mix of dark brown and true black strands which helps add visual interest.
Is Raven a natural hair color?
Raven hair is considered a natural hair color, though it is rare. Natural raven hair occurs mainly in people of Asian descent, such as those from China, Japan, Korea, and India. This is due to genetic factors that result in higher levels of the natural black pigment eumelanin.
Raven hair can also occasionally occur naturally in those of other ethnic backgrounds like Hispanic, African American, Middle Eastern, and Southern European. In these cases, a very dark brown shade may be present rather than true black.
While raven hair is predominantly a genetically-derived trait, some individuals can achieve a raven look by artificially coloring their hair. Dyeing with a blue-black shade or adding blue/ash toner to very dark hair can mimic the raven effect. However, nothing is quite as deep and dimensional as natural raven hair.
Here is a breakdown of how common natural raven hair is by ethnicity:
| Ethnicity | Raven hair prevalence |
|---|---|
| East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) | Very common |
| South Asian (Indian) | Common |
| Southeast Asian | Somewhat common |
| Hispanic/Latino | Uncommon |
| Middle Eastern | Uncommon |
| Southern European | Rare |
| Northern European | Very rare |
| African | Rare |
As shown, the prevalence of natural raven hair closely aligns with genetic heritage and regions where darker pigmentation is more common. Though not impossible, true raven hair very rarely occurs naturally in those of Caucasian/Northern European descent.
What causes natural raven hair?
Raven hair is caused by genetics and inheritance of certain hair color and texture genes. Here are some of the key genetic factors that lead to natural raven tresses:
| – High levels of eumelanin |
| – Low levels of pheomelanin |
| – Low levels of cysteine in hair shaft |
| – MC1R gene variants affecting melanin |
| – EDAR gene variation leading to thicker, more pigmented hair |
Eumelanin is the natural black/brown pigment that gives hair its darkness. Higher eumelanin leads to black hair while lower levels result in blonde or brown shades.
Pheomelanin provides golden, reddish pigmentation. Low pheomelanin is needed for jet black hair.
Cysteine promotes pheomelanin while limiting eumelanin. Raven hair results from low cysteine.
Certain variants of the MC1R gene boost eumelanin production. The EDAR gene variant EDAR V370A occurs in 98% of Asians and increases melanin density and hair thickness.
In those of Asian descent, these genetic factors combine to create the perfect storm for dense, dark raven hair. The inheritance of these genetic traits maintains the prevalence of raven hair in this population.
How is raven hair different from jet black?
While raven and jet black hair may appear similar at first glance, there are a few key differences:
| Raven Hair | Jet Black Hair |
| – Has blue, grey, or ash undertones | – No undertones, appears more “flat” |
| – Tends to have subtle natural highlights | – Usually one uniform color |
| – Reflects some light | – Absorbs most light, less shine |
| – Rarely fully opaque black | – Opaque and pitch black |
| – More dimension | – Flat and one-dimensional |
As shown, raven hair has more nuance in color, reflecting bluish and grey tones. This provides a sense of visual depth and dimension that jet black hair lacks.
Raven hair also tends to have some natural lighter brown pieces blended within the dark shade. This provides subtle natural highlights and contrast. Jet black hair is more uniform in color.
Lastly, raven hair reflects a bit of light while jet black absorbs most light. This makes raven hair appear somewhat shinier and luminous compared to the flatter, matte finish of jet black.
How to get raven hair
Here are some ways to get the raven hair look:
| Option | Method |
| Natural | – Be born with genetics for high eumelanin levels and low pheomelanin/cysteine |
| Dye job | – Use a blue-black hair dye or add blue/ash toner to achieve cool tones |
| Bleach and dye | – Bleach hair very light then dye jet black and tone with ash/blue |
| Extensions | – Get clip-in or tape-in black extensions with ash/blue tones |
| Wig | – Wear a human hair wig in a blue-black raven shade |
As you can see, most methods involve artificially coloring the hair in some way. Trying to achieve a natural raven look is difficult if you don’t have the genetic propensity for that hair color. Dyeing practices like bleaching and adding toner can get close to mimicking real raven hair.
The only way to naturally have true raven hair is to inherit the specific combination of hair color genetics that create that gorgeous bluish-black shade. Artificial color methods will fade and require regular touch-ups. They likely won’t achieve the depth and dimension of real genetic raven hair. But dyeing is an option for those seeking the raven look.
Maintenance tips for raven hair
Caring for raven hair properly helps keep it looking shiny and vibrant. Here are some tips:
| – Use sulfate-free shampoo and cool water to wash |
| – Condition well using a moisturizing formula |
| – Apply hair masks 1-2 times per week |
| – Let air dry and avoid heat styling when possible |
| – Use a purple or blue shampoo occasionally to control brassy tones |
| – Get regular trims to prevent split ends |
| – Use a nourishing serum or oil on ends |
| – Protect hair from sun exposure |
Being gentle and using hydrating, nourishing products keeps raven hair looking healthy, glossy, and brilliant. Avoid over-washing, heat damage, and chemical processing to maintain the integrity of the cuticle.
Conclusion
In summary, raven hair is a gorgeous, shiny black hair color with blue, grey, or ash undertones. It occurs naturally mainly in those of Asian descent, though it can occasionally arise in other ethnicities. Raven hair is caused by genetics that lead to high eumelanin and low pheomelanin/cysteine. This creates a dense, dark color with cool, smoky tones.
Raven hair differs from plain jet black hair by having more dimension, shine, and an almost iridescent quality. While you can dye your hair to achieve a faux raven look, true natural raven hair is rare and beautiful. Proper care and maintenance keeps raven hair looking healthy, glossy, and vibrant. Flaunt those lush, voluminous raven locks!
